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Rail Transportation

Safe, reliable, and affordable rail transportation is essential to the business of chemistry. Nearly one quarter of U.S. shipments of chemical products travel by rail, and these shipments are essential to safe drinking water, a plentiful food supply, life-saving medicines, and more.

Further Improving Rail Transportation Safety

Policy Background

A comprehensive federal regulatory framework addresses all facets of railroad hazmat safety and security. According to the Association of American Railroads, rail hazmat accident rates have declined 91 percent since 1980, and more than 99.99 percent of rail hazmat shipments reach their destination without a release caused by a train accident.

Through ACC's Responsible Care® initiative, member companies and our partners are committed to continuous improvement in every aspect of transportation safety. Collectively, ACC member companies have invested billions of dollars in training, technology, and tank car safety and will continue to do so in the future. In addition, ACC helps first responders prepare for emergencies through programs like CHEMTREC® and TRANSCAER®.

ACC Policy Positions

ACC and its members are committed to working with their transportation partners and lawmakers to promote the safe shipment of chemicals by rail. We support:

Sensible implementation of technologies like Positive Train Control (PTC) to reduce rail accidents, while allowing essential products to be shipped where they are needed.

Updating provisions of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to improve the safety and efficiency of transporting essential chemicals on highways or by rail.

Promoting Freight Rail Competition

Policy Background

Since the last major railroad reform legislation passed by Congress, the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, a series of mergers has reduced the number of Class I railroads from 26 to just seven in 2001.With drastically reduced access to competition, freight rail rates have surged over the last decade – nearly three times the rate of inflation.

ACC and other groups representing American producers released new research on the impact of outdated freight rail policies on businesses and the U.S. economy. According to the research, the premium on freight rail shipments soared by 90 percent from 2005 to 2011, despite a drop in demand, as market forces all but vanished from the freight rail system for most rail traffic.

The research demonstrates that chemical shippers paid a $3.9 billion premium for high freight rail rates in 2010, which has had a negative impact on U.S. production. Many chemical shippers report that rail challenges have hindered their company from making domestic investments and meeting customer demand.

A shipper who lacks competitive transportation service has little recourse in the face of skyrocketing rates. Filing a rate challenge with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) is extremely expensive and complex with a large rate case estimated to cost $5 million and take more than three years to resolve. Not surprisingly, very few rate cases are ever undertaken.

Promoting greater freight rail competition offers a far more efficient way to temper soaring rates and may reduce the need for government intervention. Furthermore, market-based competition reforms can lead to greater innovation and increased efficiencies in rail service, as it does throughout all sectors of the U.S. economy.

ACC Policy Positions

ACC and its members support policies to promote greater freight rail competition and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the STB. Specific reforms are needed to:

Provide shippers the ability to obtain a reasonable rate for service to an interchange where access to a competing railroad is available.

Prohibit railroads from “bundling” rates in a way that effectively prevents an STB challenge.

Reform STB “rate reasonableness” standards to ensure that appropriate relief is available in rate cases.

Streamline STB procedures to speed up resolution of cases and minimize costs.